[0:06] Call to order the regular uh meeting of
the Marshall City Council for September
[0:10] 8th, 2026. Uh Madam Clerk, could you
please call the role?
[0:14] » Mayor Wolfhersburgger
>> here.
[0:15] » Member Cheney Hugget
>> here.
[0:17] » Member Gates
>> here.
[0:18] » Member Hackworth
>> still here.
[0:20] » Member Skiibby
>> here.
[0:21] » Member Traver
>> here.
[0:23] » And member Underh Hill
>> here.
[0:25] » Motion carries. Or we have a quorum,
your honor. Jeepers, sorry.
[0:30] Um, I do not see Mr. Cole.
So, uh, I will ask council to stand for
[0:37] the pledge of
>> allegiance
[0:42] to the flag of the United States of
America and to the
[0:48] stands. One nation,
indivisible, with liberty and justice
[0:54] for all.
[0:59] Thank you. Uh that brings us to the
approval of our agenda. Uh we got a
[1:05] doozy this evening. Um number six is
public comment on agenda items. Uh
[1:12] number seven is our consent agenda
uh with council minutes city bills
[1:17] special event request for the choose
Marshall Christmas tree lighting and
[1:20] special event request for the Christmas
parade
[1:23] 10A. We have a public hearing for
resolution 2026-30, Oprah certificate
[1:28] approval for 110 South Hamilton Street.
Uh we do not have any old business. Uh
[1:34] 12A is a resolution 2026-29
for phone system upgrade contracts. 12B
[1:40] is a contract for TMDL cooperative
agreement. 12 C is resolution 2026-28
[1:47] innovation drive dedication. 12 D is
easement for the major campus culvert
[1:52] access. 12E is an easement for major
campus west access road. 12F is
[1:59] resolution 2026-27
MNRTF grant acceptance. 12G is contract
[2:06] for M uh airport layout plan update
project. 12H is a contract for airport
[2:11] layout plan update project engineering.
12 I is contract for M.Hangar hanger
[2:17] roof design project. Uh 12J is contract
for hanger roof design project
[2:23] engineering. 12K is schedule public
hearing for open district 115 East Green
[2:28] Street. Uh 12 L is special event request
for Skeleton Fest. 12M is resolution
[2:35] 2026-31,
the Cronin LLC social district request.
[2:40] We do not have any appointments or
elections. Item 14 is our public comment
[2:44] on non-aggenda items. 15 is manager and
and council of communications and 16 is
[2:51] our adjournment. I would seek a motion
on the agenda.
[2:54] » I move that we approve the agenda as
presented.
[2:58] » Second motion and support. This is uh
voice vote. All in favor, please say I.
[3:03] » I.
>> I. All oppose, same sign.
[3:05] » Motion carries. That brings us to public
comment on agenda items. Persons
[3:09] addressing city council are required to
give their name and address for the
[3:12] record when called upon by the mayor.
Members of the public shall be limited
[3:16] to speaking for a maximum of three
minutes. Comments shall address agenda
[3:19] item topics only. Public hearing items
should be addressed during the public
[3:23] hearing item portion uh item 10 of the
meeting agenda. Non-aggenda items shall
[3:29] be addressed during the public comment
non-aggenda items item 14 portion of the
[3:33] meeting agenda. Is there anyone wishing
to address council this evening on
[3:36] agenda item topics?
[3:41] Yes, sir.
[3:52] Reges Clinger 348 Butler Court in
Marshall. I just wanted to address
[3:56] passing resolutions ordinance in
general. I believe this city council
[4:00] really wants to get citizen input. They
should have a citizens advisory
[4:03] committee to help them put the input
from the citizens into any ordinances
[4:08] including for data centers, whatever.
That's my only comment. Thank you. Thank
[4:12] you. Anyone else wishing to address
council on agenda item topics this
[4:17] evening?
Yes, sir.
[4:29] Barry [clears throat] Wayne Adams again,
622 West Green Street.
[4:34] Uh, I'm wondering if you guys are going
to pull that little procedural maneuver
[4:40] that you seems to do at every meeting
where you do not
[4:48] publicly engage in deliberation or
discussion concerning the particular
[4:54] items in the consent agenda. you just
notice that there's one there and then
[4:59] you'll just go ahead and uh vote it in
lock, stock, and barrel without any
[5:03] [sighs]
uh discussion about uh about the issues.
[5:07] And uh
one of the things we want to see when we
[5:12] come down here is a uh a discussion and
uh
[5:18] exposition of uh your individual
positions on uh uh any of these items.
[5:25] And uh it seems like uh uh just like
what we saw in the workshop uh you're
[5:32] more concerned about finding ways to get
around having to uh engage in
[5:38] responsible decision- making rather than
uh taking on what you should be taking
[5:44] on.
[5:47] All right.
More stuff about the major campus. the
[5:53] major mistake
[clears throat]
[5:58] uh
[6:04] I don't know if you
you know is this a matter of
[6:09] acquiescence and acclamation
uh but uh
[6:15] that whole megaite campus now is
is an environmental abomination
[6:24] and uh you know it's a a mileong
denatured
[6:31] sterilized
uh
[6:36] insult on the environment
uh and
[6:44] hopefully
with the Michigan Supreme Court's
[6:49] still pending decision about what's
going going to be happening concerning
[6:53] the uh the referendum going all the way
back to 2023.
[6:58] There could be a complete upheaval in
uh the expectation of uh of what's going
[7:06] on out there. And you know, doesn't
matter how much
[7:13] uh
selling post-purchase uh reinforcement
[7:18] that we're getting about uh what MA has
done to benefit the Marshall area and uh
[7:28] [clears throat] when actually MA didn't
do anything but just hand over money
[7:31] that was handed to them.
I'll be back.
[7:34] » Thank you, sir. Anyone else wishing to
address council? Yes, [applause] ma'am.
[7:43] » Rebecca Sebring,
historical marshall.
[7:48] Uh, let's see. Number 12E.
Uh, again, major campus. And I agree
[7:53] with Barry. You're not conducting your
meetings properly after being to other
[7:57] townships multiple times. I agree.
You're not covering things with the
[8:01] people like you're supposed to by law.
Um, so the major campus, we're going to
[8:06] go there and do more stuff to it. Well,
you know, you bought back a whole bunch
[8:10] of it. Could you please take down that
military burm? It'd be cheaper in the
[8:15] future for maintenance, and we could see
what was going on. And on top of
[8:18] recently discovering all the six
extremely deadly chemicals being blown
[8:24] into the air that are going to be
approved that are blowing at town. Um,
[8:28] highly dangerous. And now we've got the
water rushing out of the back. All the
[8:32] canoe people have been reporting on how
groy it is and it doesn't smell just
[8:37] like sewage. It smells like chemicals
and sewage. Um,
[8:41] so you really should think twice when
you do stuff anymore, but you're not you
[8:46] don't cover what these expenses are and
all kinds of stuff. All the other
[8:50] townships go through things in in
immense detail to the point where you're
[8:55] stuck there for three hours. And that's
the way all meetings should be when
[8:58] we're talking government meetings need
to go on and on. You need to talk them
[9:03] over in detail with the people and uh
appointments and elections. I just want
[9:08] to I want to say Ryan Watson for mayor
would be great. Uh that would be nice.
[9:15] Um and I really don't think we need to
dump more money into the mega site, your
[9:21] major campus, now that we bought back a
whole bunch of it. Like seriously, why
[9:26] are they putting in for 31 parcels to be
reszoned? There's houses on that. That's
[9:31] on Michigan A 13mi road and 11 mile road
in there. If you can hear me out there
[9:38] warning, they're going to be looking at
reszoning your area and trying to
[9:43] displace you from your homes again. If
we need so many homes in this town, how
[9:48] come you continually shove people out
and take their homes away?
[9:54] Thank you. Anyone else wishing to
address council on agenda item topics?
[10:01] Seeing none, um
>> Oh, sorry.
[10:12] » Good evening, Mayor and City Council. Uh
it's a pleasure to be here tonight.
[10:15] Richard Lindseay on behalf of the of
Marshall Area Economic Development
[10:19] Alliance. I'm the attorney for the fora.
We have on the agenda tonight items 12
[10:24] C, D, and E. And of course, Margarite
will do a fantastic job explaining
[10:29] those. I just wanted to say this is
beginning the transfer of the remaining
[10:34] assets that MA has constructed using
state taxpayer dollars. No local
[10:38] taxpayer dollars. Um on behalf of the
city, we'll be transferring to the city.
[10:43] So, all state-of-the-art improvements,
all done at no cost to the city of
[10:46] Marshall. Um, all first class um
infrastructure uh ready to be
[10:51] transferred over per our agreement. This
started uh basically the end of 2022.
[10:56] So, this has been a four-year process to
get here. Um, I just want to say it's
[11:00] been extraordinary working with the city
staff, um, city manager, um, Perry,
[11:06] again, Margaret, um, Marsha, Gabe Gore,
I don't think is here tonight, but all
[11:11] them been extraordinary to work with. I
think it's been an extraordinary
[11:14] partnership, um, between the city and MA
to get all this work done. This is the
[11:18] largest industrial development project
in the state of Michigan. It is now your
[11:23] largest taxpayer, is now your largest
employer. Not sure quite there yet, but
[11:28] maybe by the end of the year. Um, this
is a a gamechanging investment for the
[11:34] state, for the the um city of Marshall.
We're very excited to see it move
[11:38] forward and look forward to adopting and
passing these items tonight. Thank you
[11:43] very much.
>> Thank you. Anyone else wishing to
[11:45] address council on agenda item topics?
[11:54] » Um, thank you. That moves us to our
consent agenda. Um I will address the
[11:58] comments uh from the audience. Um the
consent agenda is exactly that. It's an
[12:03] up or down vote. These are items that
are essentially um
[12:09] normal and um necessary for the
operation of government or special
[12:14] events that happen annually. Um, if any
council member chooses or or wants to
[12:21] have additional discussion on any item,
uh, they can let that be known and an
[12:25] item will be pulled out to a regular
agenda item for for deeper discussion.
[12:29] But the whole point of a consent agenda
is yes or no.
[12:37] » Um, so with that consent agenda 7 A,
council uh, minutes from our regular
[12:42] session August 17th, 2026. 7B city bills
from August 14th, 2026 of $377,26946.
[12:52] Uh purchases from August 19th, 2026 of
$16,143.76.
[12:58] Purchases from 8, excuse me, August
21st, 2026 of 1,251,377.88.
[13:06] Uh purchases from August 24th, 2026 of
$396,885.95.
[13:12] purchases uh from August 25th, 2026 of
$79,64856
[13:19] and then our July our July power
purchase of 1,86,6564
[13:26] for a total of 3,27,29825.
[13:31] 7 C is our special event request for the
choose Marshall Christmas tree lighting
[13:35] and 7D is our special event request for
the Christmas parade 2026. Uh I would
[13:39] seek a motion regarding the consent
agenda.
[13:45] Move that we approve the agenda as
written.
[13:48] » Support.
>> Have a motion in support. And so the
[13:51] roll call vote, please.
>> Member Cheney Hugget.
[13:55] » Yes.
>> Member Gates.
[13:56] » Yes.
>> Member Hecworth.
[13:58] » Yes.
>> Member Skiibby.
[13:59] » Yes.
>> Member Traver.
[14:01] » Yes.
>> Member Underh Hill.
[14:02] » Yes.
>> And Mayor Wolersburgger?
[14:04] » Yes.
>> Motion carries, your honor.
[14:05] » Thank you. Uh, that brings us to item
10A, our public hearing for resolution
[14:10] 2026-30,
Oprah certificate approval for 110 South
[14:14] Hamilton. And Director Strange is back
with us.
[14:17] » Mr. Mayor, could I um I'd like to
disclose that I have an existing
[14:22] contractual business relationship with
the applicant to avoid any actual or
[14:26] perceived conflict of interest. I'm
requesting to be recused from
[14:29] participation in the public hearing and
from any consideration of the matter.
[14:33] » Okay. Um, do I have a motion to recuse
Council Member Traver?
[14:38] » I move that we recuse Councilman Traver.
Second.
[14:42] » Have a motion in support.
I would assume this a roll call.
[14:48] » I'm sorry. Please don't disrupt the
meeting.
[14:54] » Uh, I have a motion in support. All in
favor, please say I.
[14:57] » I. I.
>> All oppose. Same sign.
[15:00] » Council member Trevor, you are recused
from item 10A. Thank you.
[15:05] » Please proceed.
>> Good evening. Um, the city has received
[15:09] an application uh for obsolete property
rehabilitation exemption uh or OPRA um
[15:15] for 110 South Hamilton Street um last
month. Uh public hearing was scheduled
[15:21] for tonight regarding the certificate,
the Oprah certificate for this project.
[15:26] The applicant Manurion Properties LLC
proposes a comprehensive renovation of
[15:31] the functionally obsolete two-story
commercial building. Um the property is
[15:36] in need of improvements to make it a
viable facility. Upon completion, the
[15:40] building will be home to the Yardage
Club, an indoor golf club bringing new
[15:45] year-round activity, employment, and
visitors. Um information was in the
[15:49] packet regarding that project. And um
like I said, tonight we are considering
[15:55] um holding the public hearing and then
considering the approval of the OPRA
[15:59] certificate.
>> Thank you.
[16:02] » Uh with that I will open
>> Oh, I'm sorry for it's a six-year Oprah.
[16:06] My apologies.
>> Sure. Thank you.
[16:07] » Thank you.
>> Uh with that, I will open the uh public
[16:10] hearing for resolution 2026-30,
Oprah certificate approval for 110 South
[16:15] Hamilton.
Anyone wishing to address council this
[16:18] evening on this uh resolution?
[16:28] Seeing none, I will close the public
hearing.
[16:32] Uh that brings us to council uh
questions uh discussion.
[16:39] I know we've heard this um a few times
now uh from you know with the
[16:44] introduction of the um of the Oprah
district and and approval. Um I guess
[16:51] are there any additional questions you
want to consider before we um make a
[16:55] motion? I will just say that I've heard
from just friends in the area who are
[17:01] very excited for what's coming and um I
think from everything I've seen it looks
[17:10] beautiful and I'm very excited for it
and yeah I know a lot of people in town
[17:15] who have come to me personally so
>> yeah these these activity type
[17:20] businesses are I think what what's been
missing you know the the axe throwing
[17:24] the golf you know I I look forward
forward to, you know, hopefully some
[17:27] additional uh businesses of this nature
coming.
[17:30] » I've got family who drive to do the same
thing. So now they can just stay here in
[17:34] Marshall. So
>> perfect.
[17:37] » All right. If there's no further
questions or discussion, I'll seek a
[17:40] motion regarding 10A.
I move we approve resolution 2026-30,
[17:46] a resolution to approve an obsolete
property rehabilitation exemption
[17:50] certificate for the project located at
210 South Hamilton and authorize the
[17:53] city manager to sign the necessary
documents.
[17:57] » Can we
correct address 110 or 210?
[18:01] » 110.
>> You want me to start it again like or
[18:04] just amend your handle it? Go ahead.
Amend my uh motion to 110 South Hamilton
[18:11] Street. Okay.
>> Motion and support. And s roll vote,
[18:15] please.
>> Member Gates,
[18:18] » yes.
>> Member Hackworth,
[18:19] » yes.
>> Member Skiibby,
[18:21] » yes.
>> Member Underh Hill,
[18:22] » yes.
>> Mayor Wolersburgger,
[18:24] » yes.
>> And member Teny Hugget,
[18:26] » yes.
>> Motion carries, your honor.
[18:28] » Thank you.
Uh, that brings us uh to 12A resolution
[18:33] 2026-29,
phone system upgrade contracts. And
[18:37] clerk, you
>> good evening. We have had numerous
[18:42] issues with the phones over several
years. This has been a project I want to
[18:46] say almost probably since I started
eight years ago that's been in the
[18:49] works. Um we have been trying for
numerous like I said about eight years
[18:54] to try and figure out the phone project.
When most recently when we took over
[18:58] with Calhoun IT, they offered to help us
with the project and we have identified
[19:04] an ideal contract that will work and
suit our needs um and will actually come
[19:08] in well under budget. So if you've got
questions about it, I'm happy to attempt
[19:14] to answer them.
>> Under budget's always awesome.
[19:19] » Questions, comments, or discussion?
>> Is it still be ran off a VoIP system?
[19:24] It will go to we actually are moving to
a VoIP system. We currently don't have a
[19:28] VoIP system but um we are in addition to
the project we with the phones we are
[19:35] working on a project as a internet
backup so that when we have an issue
[19:39] with the existing backup we're going to
go to I believe we're looking at a
[19:43] cellular backup for the internet for the
phones.
[19:45] » That's my next question. Thank you.
Were there any local companies that or
[19:51] area companies that might have been able
to bid?
[19:55] » Not that I am aware of that would meet
our needs.
[19:58] » Okay. Thank you.
>> Well, is this did this just fall under
[20:02] our existing IT contract with the county
or is did are we doing something special
[20:07] with them?
>> So, we did have a another company
[20:11] helping us previously. We've had several
other local companies that have
[20:14] attempted to help us previously and
that's just the project has fallen
[20:17] through. Um and so most recently Calhoun
County it just took it they said hey we
[20:23] can help you with this and we said
great. [snorts]
[20:26] » Cool.
>> So
[20:27] » so the the my deal is is the equipment
purchase not not the
[20:31] » it's the equipment purchase it's the
contracts for the service provider. It's
[20:36] numerous basically every contract that
you will see as part of that. Like I
[20:40] said, the service agreement, the
installation, the get implementation,
[20:45] the actual physical hardware is all part
of a my contracts.
[20:53] » That sounds great. I know being able to
being able to call in during an
[20:56] emergency has been a problem. Um, so I'm
thrilled that this is going to be
[21:00] addressed.
Any other questions, comments, or
[21:05] discussion?
I would seek a motion regarding uh 12A.
[21:12] » I move that we approve resolution
2026-29,
[21:15] a resolution authorizing the city of
Marshia phone system upgrade project and
[21:20] its related contracts and authorize the
city manager to sign the necessary
[21:23] documents.
>> Support motion support. So roll call
[21:27] vote, please.
>> Member Skiibby,
[21:29] » yes.
>> Member Favor,
[21:32] » yes.
>> Member Underh Hill,
[21:34] » yes. Mayor Wolersburgger,
>> yes.
[21:37] » Member Cheney Hugget,
>> yes.
[21:38] » Member Gates,
>> yes.
[21:40] » Member Hackworth,
>> yes.
[21:42] » Motion carries, your honor.
>> Thank you.
[21:44] » Brings us to 12B, our contract for TMDL
Cooperative Agreement and Director
[21:50] Davenport.
>> Good evening.
[21:52] » Ready to go.
>> Tindle.
[21:54] » Tindle.
>> Tindle.
[21:55] » Tim. We're pronouncing the acronym.
>> Yeah. Tim.
[21:59] » Okay.
Uh as uh city of Marshall, we are a our
[22:05] wastewater treatment plant. We are a
discharger to the Kamazoo River, which
[22:10] um it flows west to Lake Michigan. Um in
Alagan County, there is Lake Alligan.
[22:18] It's a 1500 acre empoundment on the
Kazoo River and um it has a history of
[22:26] hyper your trophic issues meaning it has
a lot of nutrients that come to it by
[22:32] way of the Kalamazoo River and causes
algae and clarity issues in the water
[22:37] quality of the lake. In 2001 um a tim
was created total maximum daily load is
[22:45] what that stands for. It's called Lake
Alligan's phosphorus total maximum daily
[22:49] load. Um and it w this timle was created
and approved by EPA as part of improving
[22:56] the water quality in Lake Alagan. As a
discharger to Kazoo River, we are a
[23:01] participant in this tim group. Um there
are 24 participating dischargers. Um all
[23:08] of the participating dischargers are
municipalities and industrial users who
[23:13] have a point discharge to the Kamazoo
River. meaning they have a single pipe
[23:18] or pipes that discharge from a treatment
facility um to the river. Um most of
[23:26] your phosphorus buildup in a river is
not from your point dischargers. It's
[23:30] from your non-point dischargers which
are um surface flow coming from sheet
[23:35] flow coming from um just general land
that that drains to the river by way of
[23:40] natural topography. A lot of uh
phosphorus buildup in rivers and lakes
[23:46] is driven by farm and agricultural work.
Um however because we are a um a
[23:54] discharger we are a participant in this
timle and um we are regulated by the
[23:59] state and so as part of being a
discharger we are participating um
[24:05] entity and our group has a renewed um
cooperative agreement with Eagle that is
[24:11] for you for approval tonight. That
agreement um speaks to how the um
[24:17] participating entities will conduct
business and gives us a regulation of um
[24:24] 60 micrograms per liter um of a target
growing season phosphorus concentration.
[24:30] So that's a maximum concentration during
the grow growing season within our tim
[24:36] area. Um which that relates back to us
and gives us a phosphorous limit that we
[24:41] have for our discharge point. that's
what we regulate to. Um,
[24:48] all of that said, um, the timle requires
us to meet this phosphorus um, loading.
[24:54] Um, and we work as a cooperative to meet
it together. Uh, hence the terminology.
[25:00] Um, we also um attend quarterly meetings
and meet with the other entities. Uh, we
[25:06] host Kalamazoo River cleanup or um, you
know, recreational events to promote
[25:11] river recreation. Um we do um public
education. Uh we there's a plan that
[25:17] goes with the um timle that we have to
participate in and update and uh
[25:22] completing an annual report on how we're
reducing phosphorus in our system. So um
[25:28] all that said, we're asking for approval
tonight uh of the cooperative agreement
[25:33] so that we can continue doing all those
things that we do as part of it.
[25:38] Are there uh are there any substantial
changes um from the original uh 2001
[25:43] agreement?
>> Um
[25:48] no. So two so the agreements updated
every five years. So there's been
[25:52] iterations since then. Gotcha.
>> Um but no, there are no substantial uh
[25:56] changes. Um there's actually some um
minor things on how we're requiring um
[26:03] other participants in the agreement to
be more active now. So, historically,
[26:08] you have your main um municipalities and
and the the larger one or two industries
[26:16] that are in the agreement that do all
the brunt of the work. Um, and now we've
[26:20] actually restructured some of the
requirements to um ensure that some of
[26:24] the smaller communities, even though
they don't have a huge discharge to the
[26:30] to the river, they still are required to
to be more active in their
[26:34] participation. So, and that's just by
like getting more people to participate
[26:38] in the meetings and be chair and
co-chair of the um group.
[26:42] » How does I I'm assuming 24 participating
dischargers means you it's all
[26:48] municipalities that are part of this
agreement. Is there any sort of
[26:51] agreement like this for the farms?
>> Um, no.
[26:58] » Easier to regulate.
[27:02] It's really hard to quantify like from
particular property how much actually
[27:08] gets to the river versus how much gets
absorbed in in whatever's being grown or
[27:14] whatnot. Now um what we do with uh
part of some things that we've learned
[27:24] as part of being part of the timle and
also encouraged in partnership is some
[27:28] different farming techniques that have
been tested with funding from u timle
[27:34] groups. So, uh, buffer buffering of farm
fields that allows, um, nutrients to be
[27:40] absorbed before it hits the water and
some different techniques that we're
[27:44] trying to prove to, uh, that the ent
entities doing them are trying to prove
[27:48] that we can still maintain our need for
um, the maintain the volume we need in
[27:55] farming, right? People need to eat, but
also we can do some little things um,
[28:00] that protect the water as well. So
there's some interesting research going
[28:03] on, but there's nothing regulating
against it.
[28:06] » Okay. Any uh questions, comments, or
discussion?
[28:13] » Seeing none, I'd seek a motion on 12B.
Thank you, Margaret. [snorts]
[28:16] » I move that we approve the Kel Mazoo
River Lake alligan watershed cooperative
[28:20] agreement for the reduction of
phosphorus loading between the city of
[28:23] Marshall and Eagle in substantial form
and authorize the city manager to sign
[28:27] the necessary documents.
[28:31] Second. Have
>> a motion in support. This a voice vote.
[28:34] All in favor, please say I.
>> I. All oppose, same sign. Motion
[28:39] carries. Uh that brings us to 12c
resolution 2026-28
[28:44] innovation drive dedication and director
deport.
[28:47] » Yes. Thank you. Um couple months now uh
we uh did opportunity drive dedication
[28:56] and property transfer. This innovation
drive is very similar. It's located near
[29:01] Opportunity Drive. Um, and there's a
graphic in your packet uh to help you
[29:07] identify exactly where it is. It's on
the um northeast corner of the Ford Blue
[29:12] Oval property and it connects Michigan
Avenue to their private Ring Road.
[29:18] Innovation Drive is going to be a
publicly um dedicated road um as we will
[29:26] operate, maintain and own the road um
under our public road um system and
[29:33] receive Act 51 funding for doing so. Uh
and we're looking to uh get approval on
[29:42] the ownership transfer tonight, but also
the resolution dedicating it as a public
[29:46] road so that when um the property is
officially transferred, we can file this
[29:51] with the state and get it on our um in
our database as a dedicated road.
[29:58] Right.
>> Thank you. Um any questions, comments,
[30:02] or discussion?
[30:07] Seeing none, I'd seek a motion on 12c.
[30:15] I move we approve the innovation drive.
Oh, wait. Am I the wrong one? Oh, yeah.
[30:19] I approve uh move we approve the
innovation drive property transfer
[30:23] agreement and resolution 2026-28,
resolution to dedicate innovation drive
[30:27] as a public street and authorize the
city manager to sign necessary
[30:31] documents.
[30:34] Have a motion in support. Mr. Rollco
vote, please.
[30:38] » Member Traver,
>> yes.
[30:41] » Member Underh Hill,
>> yes.
[30:43] » Mayor Wolver,
>> yes.
[30:45] » Member Cheney Hugget,
>> yes.
[30:46] » Member Gates,
>> yes.
[30:48] » Member Hackworth,
>> member Skiibby,
[30:50] » yes.
>> Motion carries, your honor.
[30:52] » Thank you. Uh, that brings us to 12D,
the easement for major campus culvert
[30:58] access. And Director Davenport, one more
time. Maybe not one more time. Don't get
[31:04] too excited. Um, in April, you may
recall that we talked about um, storm
[31:09] water uh, management at the major
campus. And so,
[31:14] uh, in summary, the city is going to be
owning and operating maintaining uh, a
[31:21] large amount of storm water
infrastructure at the major campus. And
[31:25] that was part of the development of um,
the property when um, the project first
[31:32] came to fruition.
This is the first of easements related
[31:37] to infrastructure uh for storm water.
And this one is our Culver access
[31:41] agreement. Um and it's an easement. So
we're not owning this property. We're
[31:47] going to have permission to access our
infrastructure across the property. Um
[31:54] as outlined in the documents.
Um, particularly this easement is south
[32:00] of the railroad tracks on what will be
the county owned property has been
[32:05] called the conservation easement. There
are two culverts that go under the
[32:10] railroad tracks that were built as part
of storm water infrastructure for the
[32:14] project and we are required to inspect
and be able to access said culverts and
[32:21] we need this easement to do that. So, um
this is connecting
[32:28] um the discharge end of the culverts
uh to 15 mile road and um to the east
[32:36] and then to the west um to another
easement that we have prior approval on
[32:42] so that we can traverse that entire area
and make sure the culverts are operating
[32:46] correctly prior to water water
discharging into the Kamazoo River.
[32:51] Any
questions, comments, or discussion?
[32:57] » This is all funded under that. It was
the special assessment. Is that
[33:01] accurate?
>> Um, well, there's no expense. There's no
[33:05] cost for the easement tonight.
>> Expense, but but yes, the Culver
[33:10] operation maintenance will be funded
under the special assessment district.
[33:13] Yes.
>> I'm just connecting our two points. Is
[33:15] this going to be is this going to be
like two track? Is is it going to be
[33:18] improved in any way or
>> it's currently twotrack
[33:22] um and um is traversible with a
four-wheel drive vehicle
[33:26] uh improved possibly. So um part of a
lot of work that went into this easement
[33:32] is um also uh colllocating an easement
or or working with the county on what
[33:39] their potential future plans would be
for the area for a trail. So, um,
[33:44] possibly it could be improved if that,
um, same area is getting improved as
[33:50] part of a trail trail work that the
county does.
[33:56] » This is slightly unrelated, but I'm
going to ask it anyway. Um, great.
[34:00] » Have there been any
um,
[34:05] runoff events since that uh, episode in
July 2024?
[34:10] » Um, great question. So, in July of 2024,
there was a
[34:16] mammoth rain event where the city of
Marshall got approx like six or seven
[34:22] inches of rain. Um, and the system was
under construction.
[34:26] Um, at that time, the um system was
functioning but wasn't supposed to be
[34:33] discharging water to the Kamazoo River
directly. because of the large amount of
[34:37] rain that was received and it was under
construction, it ended up discharging
[34:40] water to the Kazoo River and it it put
um with that water came silt, so sand
[34:48] from the site. Um that's the event he's
talking about. No. Um there have not
[34:53] been any other um violations of the
storm water discharge permit um since
[34:59] that event. The w the the culverts do
discharge to the Kamazoo River, but the
[35:04] system is functioning to make sure that
correctly so that all the silt that
[35:08] needs to stay on the property is staying
on property. Clean water is coming down,
[35:15] infiltrating through the basin,
discharging through the culverts if it
[35:19] doesn't infiltrate fast enough, and then
moving into the Kamasu River. [snorts]
[35:24] » Thank you. Any further questions,
comments, or discussion?
[35:30] Seeing none. Um,
>> check. Oh, I'm sorry. Do we check the
[35:33] quality of that water periodically
that's flowing into the Kazoo River?
[35:38] » So, currently the site is under a soil
erosion and soil control permit which is
[35:43] um regulated by the county. The
contractor is required to have storm
[35:47] water inspections completed um on a
monthly if not weekly basis currently.
[35:53] Um, so that is how the site is regulated
or or checked today. When we take
[35:59] ownership of all of the storm water
infrastructure, which is not what we're
[36:03] doing tonight, we're just taking the
easement. But when we take ownership of
[36:06] all the infrastructure and we're
operating it, yes, there will be part of
[36:11] what I'm developing as like an asset
management plan are triggers for when
[36:14] things need to be inspected. So certain
level storm events um and or at a
[36:19] minimum quarterly uh when infrastructure
will be inspected
[36:24] um and water tested honestly for water
quality.
[36:27] » Okay. When is when are we expected to
take that over
[36:33] » hopefully by the end of the year.
>> Okay.
[36:39] » Seeing no further discussion uh I will
seek a motion on 12D.
[36:45] I move we approve culvert access
location flowage future development
[36:49] existing access easements agreement
between the city of Marshall and MA in
[36:53] substantial form and authorize the city
manager to sign the necessary documents.
[37:01] » Second a motion in support. This a voice
vote. All in favor say I.
[37:06] » I.
>> All oppose same sign. Motion carries.
[37:11] Uh and director deport back for the last
one. Uh 12E easement for the major
[37:16] campus west access road.
>> Yes, thank you. Um this is another
[37:21] access point to Ford Blue Ovals's
property from Michigan Avenue. Very
[37:25] similar to Innovation Drive earlier, but
this is not a public road. This will be
[37:30] an easement um for the time being. It is
a constructed road. It's concrete.
[37:36] functions like a road, but um we're not
dedicating it as a public road at this
[37:42] time for reasons related to future
development plans and wanting to make um
[37:48] flexibility of future land use um as
flexible as possible to increase the
[37:56] flexibility for future land use. Um this
is on the west side of the major campus
[38:02] in the northwest
about the middle of um the Blue Oval
[38:07] property and um it [clears throat] will
be open. There will be no gates. It just
[38:14] will not be a public road. It will be
owned, operated, and
[38:17] [snorts and clears throat] maintained um
by the city through our special
[38:20] assessment district that we're going to
establish.
[38:23] » Okay.
Will we will do like snow clearing and
[38:27] things like that on it?
>> Correct.
[38:31] » Any other questions, comments, or
discussion?
[38:36] » Pretty straightforward. Um, thank you.
Uh, that I will seek a motion on item
[38:42] 12E. Move that we approve west access
road easement agreement between the city
[38:47] of Marshall and Ma substantial form and
authorize the city manager to sign the
[38:51] necessary documents.
I
[38:54] » have a motion to support and this is a
voice vote. All in favor please say I.
[38:57] » I. All oppose same sign. Motion carries.
That brings us to 12F uh resolution
[39:04] 2026-27
M. Are we pronouncing that acronym?
[39:08] MNRTF grant acceptance
and director strange.
[39:15] » Good evening again. Um, following a
resolution of support way back in March
[39:19] of 2025,
uh, the city applied for a trust fund
[39:23] grant for the Michigan Department of
Natural Resources, that is where you get
[39:26] your MN
RTF.
[39:30] um to assist with the cost of
constructing or reconstructing a section
[39:34] of the city's river uh riverwalk located
between Stewart's Landing and South
[39:38] Marshall Avenue. Um the application
defines the sources of matching funds
[39:44] for the project as the grant amount
request was $200,000 and the total match
[39:52] from general funds or local district
funds uh was $200 or excuse me, I said
[39:58] $200. $200,000. My apologies. Leave left
out a couple zeros there. Um and the
[40:05] match uh city match was $200,000 for a
total project cost for the estimate at
[40:11] $400,000.
So the percentage of match was a 50%
[40:16] match. That generally gives us the the
me the best points when we go after
[40:21] trust fund grants.
>> Um so we have recently received
[40:24] notification that the funds for our
project have been allocated. Um so the
[40:30] state has finally allocated those funds
and said that hey you really are getting
[40:35] those monies. Um this resolution is a
resolution to accept those funds. Um and
[40:44] to dedicate the funds that were
committed at the time of the
[40:48] application.
Um once those funds have formally been
[40:51] accepted, we can finish the construction
documents and put the project out to
[40:56] bed.
Um, and there's more information in
[40:59] there about the Riverwalk project
itself. Um, the section that is uh
[41:05] proposed to be completed is uh fairly
far east towards Stewart's Landing if
[41:10] you're uh interested in where that
section is. U Riverwalk was originally
[41:15] constructed in 1995 and so uh it is uh
reached the point in its life where it
[41:20] needs to get replaced
and luckily we have these opportunities
[41:24] to get some funding to help. Absolutely.
Uh any questions, comments, or
[41:28] discussion?
>> Just a quick question. I'm very happy to
[41:32] see these funds come through. I'm just
wondering um about how the balance is
[41:35] doing on our special projects fund. Is
that holding steady? Where are we at
[41:40] with that?
>> It is. I don't have the exact numbers in
[41:44] front of me, but uh we can report that
to you. But yeah, we have definitely
[41:48] have available funds for this project.
Absolutely. In fact, I think when we bid
[41:51] this project, you know, originally the
concept was another chunk of this. I
[41:55] really think we probably should expand
the scope and figure out what we need to
[41:59] do all the way from South Marshall to
Stewart's Landing and get that price
[42:03] before you to make a decision, but
Special Projects funds looking good.
[42:06] Yeah, I think I want to say it's in
excess of $7 million right now.
[42:09] » Oh, okay. Great.
>> Thank you.
[42:11] » We've been good stewards of that money.
I mean by we I mean we um the you know
[42:16] where we've we've pursued these matching
grants you know because the fund gives
[42:20] us the the ability to match them. Um so
you know years ago having saying we're
[42:26] going to ask for $200,000 and then have
to come up with our own would have been
[42:29] a huge challenge. So um no we've we've
spent well. So
[42:35] um I will say just uh as a follow on
you're fine. um is, you know, the the
[42:41] area that was rebuilt uh a few years
ago, you know, was a just looks
[42:45] fantastic and and feels solid, way more
solid than than the rest of that
[42:50] Riverwalk in that area. So, this is
definitely time, you know, to get this
[42:52] done and uh and and really appreciate
your efforts, Marca, to uh uh to make
[42:57] this grant happen. Um if there's no
other questions, comments, or mute,
[43:04] » just
um I'm really excited to see this
[43:08] happen. My husband Ken who has passed
away was one of the original people that
[43:13] con helped construct it. So it holds
near and dear to my heart and I'm glad
[43:18] to see we're we're taking care of it and
I just know that his legacy is living on
[43:24] so in a small way.
>> I did not know that. That's fantastic.
[43:30] I'll just comment too that um
we see a lot of grant requests come up
[43:37] here and then I often wonder I wonder if
we got that grant and if they're not
[43:41] matching perhaps they don't come back to
us but um just it just feels good to
[43:46] hear that one was accepted and we're
moving forward on it. So thank you.
[43:50] Still trying to get that bridge one. But
[snorts]
[43:54] uh with that, I will seek a motion on
12F. Please,
[44:02] » I move Whoops. I move that we approve
resolution
[44:08] 2026-27
a resol a resolution to accept the
[44:14] Michigan natural resources trust grant
fund fund grant for Marshall Riverwalk
[44:20] phase 2 and authorize the city manager
to sign the necessary documents
[44:25] » support.
I have a motion in support and this a
[44:27] roll call vote please.
>> Member Underh Hill
[44:30] » yes.
>> Mayor Wolfersburgger.
[44:33] » Yes. Member Cheney Hugget,
>> yes.
[44:34] » Member Gates,
>> yes.
[44:36] » Member Hackworth,
>> yes.
[44:37] » Member Skiibby,
>> yes.
[44:38] » Member Traver,
>> yes.
[44:40] » Motion [clears throat] carries, your
honor.
[44:41] » Thank you.
>> And that brings us to 12G, contract for
[44:46] MD airport layout plan update project.
And Director Strange back with us.
[44:53] » Hello. I have um four contracts actually
on the agenda tonight. um and they kind
[45:00] of are work together in pairs. And so
the first contract um
[45:06] is for
the um
[45:11] I'm sorry,
I'm going to get them confused here.
[45:15] Okay, so the first one is actually our
contract with MDOT for the layout plan
[45:20] uh for the airport. And we think of the
airport layout plan is kind of like a
[45:25] master plan for the airport. So we have
a master plan for the city um where we
[45:29] say you know we our what our goals are
for the city what could be in the city.
[45:33] Um an airport is required to have a
similar type of dedicated plan that says
[45:39] this is the maximum length of runway
that would be possible at our site even
[45:43] if that's not what our current length
is. Um it gives uh any kind of uh
[45:48] potential um expansion of uh other
infrastructure on the site like hangers
[45:54] or um you know other taxi ways or things
like that. Um
[46:00] and it also takes into account some of
the um adjacent property you know like
[46:05] trees and things in the area. There's a
lot of kind of assessing going on. So uh
[46:09] think of it kind of as a master plan for
the airport. Um, and it is a requirement
[46:16] by the FAA that we keep that master plan
up to date. And so we've kind of reached
[46:20] the cadence. You know, it's time for us
to update the our master plan. Um,
[46:26] this first contract with MDOT ties
directly to the second contract on the
[46:32] agenda for um engineering related to
developing that airport layout plan. So
[46:41] the M do MDOT contract is for the same
amount as the uh engineering contract
[46:49] with meat and hunt. Um and because what
happens is um basically MDOT pays us to
[46:57] whatever our fees are associated with uh
that contract with our con our
[47:02] consultant.
So they go hand in hand. Um, if both are
[47:08] approved, there is no cost to the city
and there we satisfy the requirement for
[47:13] the FAA to and and begin working towards
developing that uh airport layout plan.
[47:22] » Is this um and I realize where it's the
other one that actually has the cost
[47:27] associated, but um is this funded
through the FAA then? Is that where the
[47:32] or where's the money coming from? I
guess if it's not going to cost the city
[47:35] » mrow.
>> So yeah, so M. Arero is the one who
[47:40] gives us the funding
>> to pay
[47:44] the consultant.
>> Okay.
[47:48] » But we have to have a contract with both
of them. So we have to have a contract
[47:52] with M. Arero and we have to have a
contract with our consultant.
[47:55] » Okay. Uh any questions, comments or
discussion on this?
[48:01] Always ask them on the next one. So just
at this point there's no plans to make
[48:05] any changes in the near future to the
airport. It's just approving
[48:09] » no anything on the
>> correct market in the near future.
[48:13] » Yeah, this this was um brought to our MD
dot actually is making the request for
[48:20] us to update our plan and so we are
they're also bringing the funds to be
[48:26] able to do it.
[48:29] » A funded state mandate. That's nice.
[48:34] Um,
I guess any further questions, comments,
[48:38] or discussion.
[48:42] Then I would seek a motion on 12G.
We'll circle back. I move we approve M.
[48:50] IJA agreement number 206-0629
[48:55] between the city of Marshall and
Michigan Department of Transportation in
[48:59] substantial form and authorize the city
manager to sign the necessary documents.
[49:05] » Second
have a motion support uh a voice vote.
[49:09] All in favor please say I.
>> I oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. And
[49:15] then here's the second part of this
contract. uh 12H contract for airport
[49:21] layout plan update project engineering.
Is there any further points on this?
[49:27] » And this one is our consultants contract
with us. So this is the other part of
[49:33] that that period.
[49:37] » Okay. Uh unless there's further
discussion, I'll seek a motion.
[49:43] I move that we approve the agreement for
professional consultant services meet
[49:47] and hunt project number 134300-26302.01
[49:54] between the city of Marshall and me and
Hunt substantial form and authorize the
[49:58] city manager to sign the necessary
documents.
[50:00] » Second.
>> Uh I have a motion report and this is a
[50:05] voice vote.
>> Okay. Uh all in favor please say I. I I
[50:12] all oppose same sign motion carries
and then the second set uh 12 I contract
[50:21] for M do hanger roof design project.
>> Yes, thank you.
[50:26] » Um so this is also a pair of contracts.
Um but the project in question is um the
[50:34] airport hanger roof the main hanger uh
with the curved roof on it um needs a
[50:39] roof replacement and um roof and gutter
replacement uh including downspouts if
[50:45] you're interested. Um but it's the
curved roof section. Um and it's been in
[50:51] need of for some time. Uh it was
actually discussed well over a year ago
[50:56] as in being needed but um couldn't
really get that project moving with
[51:02] MDOT. Um, and luckily we because of the
because of the delay, they actually had
[51:09] some additional funding that we were
able to um kind of take advantage of.
[51:13] And so we have a very similar situation
with this project where there is no
[51:17] local match um which is unusual. Um,
and so we are able to sign a contract uh
[51:27] with our consultant and sign a contract
with MDOT uh for basically to basically
[51:32] pass through those funds um through to
our consultant to do that rough hanger
[51:38] project.
[51:42] » Thank you. Uh any questions, comments or
discussion?
[51:47] » And sorry just to be clear that's for
the design work associated with it. This
[51:50] is not the construction contract.
>> Yeah, I'm I'm try I'm So, because this
[51:56] is for the design work, you may not be
able to answer this question yet, but uh
[51:59] is um I mean, is the intention to try to
retain the historic nature of the of the
[52:05] hanger? I know it's been there a while.
>> Yes. So, um you know, there will be some
[52:11] anticipated deck replacements uh in that
area, but it's it should not look any
[52:17] different than what is there. I mean,
it'll be
[52:20] » newer, nicer,
>> newer, you know. Um, they're, you know,
[52:24] they should be like with any other roof
replacement, they should be trying to
[52:28] maintain the, you know, similar type
flashing details and all that kind of
[52:32] stuff. Gutters and downspouts should be
in approximately the same location, all
[52:35] that kind of stuff.
>> Will they I mean, do you know if they'll
[52:38] try to incorporate like efficiency
standards like double layering the roof,
[52:41] anything like that? um you know I so
that is not a heated
[52:48] building you know so um they will have
to meet whatever the current energy code
[52:52] requirements are okay
>> um but you know a portion of that would
[52:55] not really need to be that well
insulated um of course we are just
[53:00] entering into the design contract so all
those details would be worked out as
[53:04] part of that process
>> right okay your airport board excited
[53:08] about this one Yes, [laughter]
>> if they could jump up and down and
[53:13] scream and how they
>> That's exciting. Um, okay. Any
[53:19] questions, comments, or discussion?
[53:24] » Seeing none, I seek a motion on
12. I
[53:30] » I move that we approve M. I I JA
agreement number 2026-0745
[53:37] between the city of Marshall and
Michigan Department of Transportation in
[53:40] substantial form and authorized city
manager to sign the necessary documents.
[53:45] » Second.
>> I have a motion and support. It's a
[53:49] voice vote. All in favor, please say I.
>> I.
[53:51] » I.
>> All oppose, same sign. Motion carries.
[53:56] And then like the other one, this is a
uh the actual uh project engineering
[54:01] contract is 12J. Um any additional
details to provide? No.
[54:06] » No.
>> Um unless there's further comments,
[54:10] questions, or discussion, I'd see a
motion on 12J.
[54:13] I move we approve agreement for
professional consultant services me and
[54:18] Hunt hanger roof project in substantial
form between the city of Marshall and me
[54:22] and Hunt and authorize the city manager
to sign the necessary documents
[54:27] » support
have a motion support also a voice vote
[54:31] all in favor please say I
>> I oppose same sign motion carries and
[54:37] then uh 12K we're almost there
uh schedule public hearing for Oprah
[54:43] district for 115 East Green.
[54:48] » The last one for me tonight. Um, the
city has received an application for an
[54:53] obsolete property rehabilitation
exemption. Again, this is another Oprah,
[54:58] but this is for 115 East Green Street.
Uh, you may be familiar with the Masonic
[55:04] Temple building on the corner there,
right across from kind of kitty corner
[55:08] across from the middle school.
Um the applicant uh Dan Saber uh
[55:15] proposes a comprehensive renovation of
the of the building to create a mixeduse
[55:19] building to including commercial on the
elevated first floor and residential
[55:24] throughout the remainder of the
building. Um the property is in need of
[55:28] improvements to make it a viable
facility
[55:31] and it has received a variance from the
zoning board of appeals to allow
[55:35] residential below commercial. Um, and
that's due to its kind of unique nature
[55:40] of having that elevated main floor
level. And it has also received site
[55:46] plan approval um, due to the change of
use and for the addition of an elevator
[55:51] and dumpster enclosure on the west side
of the building.
[55:55] Um, before the OPRA certificate can
[clears throat] be considered, an OPRA
[55:58] district must be established, which
requires a public hearing. The extents
[56:04] of the proposed district are the
property limits and are defined in the
[56:09] provided property description.
Um so we are asking tonight to schedule
[56:14] a public hearing for the upcoming
meeting uh an upcoming meeting to
[56:18] consider this request for the Oprah um
district establishment.
[56:28] Um, not that it's relevant to scheduling
a public hearing, but um, this the Oprah
[56:34] law is suns setting at the end of the
year unless the legislature takes
[56:38] action.
>> That is true and we are trying to get
[56:41] this wrapped up as soon as we can.
>> Okay. So, uh, could be our last one we
[56:47] consider.
Um, if there's any questions, comments,
[56:52] or discussion, again, we are just
scheduling the public hearing for
[56:55] creating the district.
>> I would just comment briefly that I've
[57:00] watched with some dismay as that
beautiful uh historic old building has
[57:04] kind of gone into disrepair a little bit
and uh uh if I were uh wellendowed with
[57:10] cash, I'd have snatched it up myself and
try to do something with it. But I'm
[57:13] delighted to see the uh uh the owners uh
taking action and that that we can help.
[57:18] It's going to be a a very large
investment in our community. Um, but I'm
[57:23] just uh very h happy to help however we
can to uh get that beautiful building
[57:28] » back into shape. So,
>> it's a big building.
[57:30] » Yes.
>> Yeah. I just add it's a substantial
[57:33] investment. I was starting to um lose
hope that anything would ever happen to
[57:37] that building and it probably wouldn't
without an Oprah. So, um yeah, I just
[57:44] wanted to add that.
[57:48] Unless there's any further questions,
comments, or discussion, I'll seek a
[57:51] motion regarding 12K.
[57:56] » I move that we schedule a public hearing
for October 5th, 2026 to consider
[58:00] creation of an Oprah district for 115
East Green Street.
[58:04] » Second motion in support is voice. All
in favor, please say I.
[58:09] » I.
>> All oppose, same sign. Motion carries.
[58:14] and 12 L uh special event request for
Skeleton Fest and Kirk Eubank.
[58:19] » That's me. Um the only reason Skeleton
Fest is coming to you as a separate item
[58:24] this year as opposed to in your consent
agenda is because they were um
[58:28] originally asking for several larger
scale displays to be placed in either
[58:34] the fountain circle or different
rightways. Um and staff had concerns
[58:40] with some of those larger displays. Um,
as far as being able to see sight lines
[58:44] and pedestrians, we have learned that
some of those larger displays are not
[58:48] going to be happening anymore. Um,
however, we would still request that the
[58:53] application be approved with the
contingency that the public safety has
[58:57] the final authority on where displays
are for public safety.
[59:04] » Okay. Any questions, comments, or
discussion?
[59:09] I'll just uh note this is um I'm really
impressed with what this event has
[59:13] become. Um the the first uh the first
year it was um a little minimally uh
[59:20] attended um and they have stuck with it
and improved it and it has I I think
[59:26] last year uh there were several weekends
through late September and early October
[59:30] where our sidewalks were just stuffed
with people and that was just fantastic
[59:34] to see. So, um, if there's no further
questions, comments, or discussion, I'll
[59:40] see a motion on 12 L.
[59:46] I move we approve the special event
request for Skeleton Fest from September
[59:51] 26th to October 31st, 2026 with the
contingency that public safety has the
[59:56] final authority on display locations
that may impact safety.
[1:00:00] » Second.
>> A motion and support. a voice vote. All
[1:00:04] in favor, please say I.
>> I.
[1:00:06] » All oppose, same sign. Motion carries.
And our last one, uh 12M, resolution
[1:00:14] 2026-31, the Cronin LLC social district
request. And clerk Eubank again.
[1:00:20] » So, this is similar to pretty much every
other social district that we have ever
[1:00:23] had. Um the Cronin, we approved their uh
rehabilitation DDA license, liquor
[1:00:30] license earlier this summer. Um and they
are now looking to add a social district
[1:00:35] permit to that. We've not had any issues
with the social district since we
[1:00:39] created it. Um what five years ago? Um
so if you have any con questions, I'm
[1:00:46] got PD here to help answer it.
[1:00:51] » Any questions, comments, or discussion?
>> No, but once again, I have several
[1:00:55] people very excited about this as well
>> and I'm included in that one. Yeah, I
[1:01:01] I've I've heard from I've heard from
restaurants and and and bars downtown
[1:01:05] that the social district actually is
quite um quite popular and and so they
[1:01:10] they definitely all support um having it
and keeping it. So, um if there's no
[1:01:16] further uh questions, comments, or
discussion, I'll take a motion regarding
[1:01:20] 12M.
>> Actually, one question just hit my since
[1:01:23] there's two separate the cocktail lounge
and the restaurant side. Are those
[1:01:27] licensed separately, separate entities,
or is it all under one umbrella as a
[1:01:32] single operating unit?
>> They're applying for it as one license.
[1:01:36] » Okay.
>> Or one umbrella for the entire property.
[1:01:40] » Cool.
>> I think they must be the same legal
[1:01:42] entity. Yeah.
>> Yeah.
[1:01:45] » Right. Right.
[1:01:49] » I would seek a motion. I move that we
approve resolution 2026-31
[1:01:53] local government unit approval for
social district permit requested by the
[1:01:57] Cronin LLC at 101 West Michigan Avenue.
>> Second.
[1:02:04] » Thank you. Have a motion in support.
That's a roll call vote, please.
[1:02:07] » Member Cheney Hugget.
>> Yes. Member Gates.
[1:02:10] » Yes.
>> Member.
[1:02:11] » Yes.
>> Member Skiibby?
[1:02:13] » Yes.
>> Member Traver?
[1:02:15] » Yes.
>> Member Underh Hill?
[1:02:16] » Yes.
>> And Mayor Wolfersburgger?
[1:02:18] » Yes.
>> Motion carries, your honor. Thank you.
[1:02:21] That brings us to item 14, public
comment on non-aggenda items. Persons
[1:02:24] addressing city council are required to
give their name and address for the
[1:02:27] record when called upon by the mayor.
Members of the public shall be limited
[1:02:31] to speaking for a maximum of two
minutes. Comments shall address
[1:02:34] non-aggenda item topics. Public hearing
items should have been addressed during
[1:02:38] the public hearing portion item 10 of
the meeting agenda. Agenda items should
[1:02:42] have been addressed during the public
comments agenda items item six portion
[1:02:45] of the meeting agenda. Is there anyone
uh here this evening wishing to address
[1:02:49] council on non-aggenda items? Yes,
ma'am.
[1:02:58] » Rebecca Sebring, historic marshall.
Okay. To answer your question on the
[1:03:02] farmer thing. Now, I haven't been an
active farmer. My family hasn't since
[1:03:06] the 80s. We have a drainage ditch that's
dried up most of the year on our
[1:03:11] property, so it doesn't really serve
much purpose anymore. Um, but there is a
[1:03:16] dairy farmer down the way that did get
in trouble for feces and that excrement
[1:03:21] in going into the river. I don't know
exactly how they do that, but I also
[1:03:26] want to bring up um the current
industrial mayor Wolfenberger has uh
[1:03:33] bragged about this whole airport thing
is to accommodate the solar panel
[1:03:38] people. Just wanted you to all be aware
of that. He did speak about it at a
[1:03:42] meeting quite a few months back. Um, and
I also want to say that we really need
[1:03:49] citizens oversight on our elections in
this town. We do not need any more re
[1:03:55] recounts that come out 2 to one. We need
people to step up and we need oversight
[1:04:02] on our elections in Marshall for sure.
The corruption is overwhelming. So, we
[1:04:07] really need it. Uh, I also want to say
Ryan Watson for mayor of Marshall.
[1:04:13] the he'd be more of a historical type
mayor rather than industrial and that
[1:04:17] would suit our town much better than
what we're going through right now. We
[1:04:21] have plenty of jobs with the mega site.
We don't need any more industry. Data
[1:04:25] center is only going to bring like 20
jobs max in the end. I mean seriously
[1:04:30] and it will drain the aquifers and do
you actually keep tabs on all this
[1:04:34] stuff? We've already got a thousand kele
young men of fighting age in our town
[1:04:39] thanks to the mega site. It's spewing in
toxins into our air and into our water.
[1:04:46] This is a failure if you ask me. Let's
vote for Ryan Watson for mayor. Thank
[1:04:52] you. Anyone else wishing to address
council this evening? Yes, ma'am.
[1:05:06] Sue Barnes.
When I was gathering signatures for the
[1:05:10] initiative to put the pause on the
moratorum, public response was
[1:05:14] overwhelmingly against data centers.
While asking for signatures and
[1:05:19] discussing data centers and local
communication, some typical responses
[1:05:24] were, "Will it do any good?" I don't
feel listened to. I agree with you. But
[1:05:32] even a few business owners decide
decided to not sign because they had
[1:05:37] customers that had varying opinions and
they were afraid of losing businesses.
[1:05:42] We don't want to be divided.
I understand what they are saying
[1:05:46] considering what went down in the last
few weeks with members of the Save
[1:05:50] Michigan small towns Marshall Group.
This committee has been targets of
[1:05:54] insults and most recently slander.
Where was our protection as we were
[1:06:00] being bullied and harassed? It is never
okay to threaten or intimidate. We are
[1:06:05] not the enemy, but we all do need to do
better. Our leaders need to do better.
[1:06:12] Marshall residents deserve better.
Steve Irwin has said, "If we save our
[1:06:18] wild places, we will ultimately save
ourselves and for Margaret we from
[1:06:24] Margaret me. We won't have a society if
we destroy the environment. Thank you.
[1:06:31] » Thank you. Anyone else wishing to
address council this evening on
[1:06:34] non-aggenda items?
>> Mr. Adams,
[1:06:46] Mary Wayne Adams again, 6.2 West Green
Street.
[1:06:49] » [clears throat]
>> Uh there have been advances in
[1:06:54] battery technology that have already
made the
[1:06:59] various lithium
chemistry for
[1:07:04] chemistries for for battery manufacturer
as being uh obsolete
[1:07:10] and uh it involves [clears throat]
the uh use of uh carbonized hemp stocks
[1:07:18] as a polymer.
in the battery. And uh the advantage to
[1:07:24] this uh type of battery is that it has
infinite recharging uh cycles.
[1:07:32] uh all lithium batteries uh no matter
what variation of of chemistry [snorts]
[1:07:39] uh where lithium is the is the basis of
the battery uh it has a uh
[1:07:46] long-term attenuation of its ability to
uh to recharge and eventually after
[1:07:54] enough cycles a lithium battery uh
cannot be recharged anymore. So uh it
[1:08:01] has already rendered the uh lithium
batteries uh to be obsolete.
[1:08:06] Uh if there was a change in the wind
over at the mega site where they would
[1:08:13] alter their
[clears throat]
[1:08:15] uh processes
uh to the uh hemp process. Uh that would
[1:08:22] certainly be a welcome change. There is
serious concern about
[1:08:28] what's going to be coming out of that uh
battery plant uh particularly with the
[1:08:33] uh recent uh application by Ford and DTE
for uh additional uh relaxation of uh
[1:08:42] emission standards and uh from
All right.
[1:08:48] » Thank you, sir. Uh anyone else wishing
to address council on non-aggenda items?
[1:08:54] Yes, sir.
[1:09:02] » Ryan Watson, 310 North Malbury Street.
Tonight, I think we need to talk about
[1:09:08] the false claim death threat against the
council a few weeks ago.
[1:09:14] Um, I've read the report. Uh, Detective
Hug drove around town, mostly
[1:09:20] countryside, looking to question the
suspect.
[1:09:23] she was able to do so.
Um, in the report, the sergeant says the
[1:09:29] case is basically closed because the
anonymous tipster walked back their
[1:09:35] statements.
So, this was not a legit death threat.
[1:09:40] And I know you guys had a lot to say
about it and some people pulled back
[1:09:44] their comments after the truth came out.
And um I myself here in town, I've had a
[1:09:52] death threat against my life to my face,
you know. Um and and nothing was done
[1:09:58] about it. You know, the police sent it
to the prosecutor. Prosecutor decided
[1:10:03] that there was nothing there.
Um it's a sad state of affairs we have
[1:10:08] to deal with in this town. Not every
case, not everything is dealt equally
[1:10:13] here.
Injustices happen often here in the
[1:10:18] county
and we are told we just have to live
[1:10:21] with it. You know,
um I know folks are tired of this false
[1:10:27] paradigm here in Marshall.
They want something that's real,
[1:10:33] something that's not candycoated or
makeup put on it to make it look better
[1:10:40] than it really is.
Um,
[1:10:44] I think we can make some good changes
here in town.
[1:10:48] I think uh the future is coming quickly
and there's going to be a lot of
[1:10:53] success. So, November 3rd, vote for me.
Let's manifest a better future. Let's
[1:10:58] make things equal for folks and let's
take care of them and make sure they're
[1:11:02] okay.
>> Thank you. Anyone else wishing to
[1:11:05] address council this evening on
non-aggenda items? Yes, sir.
[1:11:18] Good evening, city council members,
Mayor Wolfberger.
[1:11:21] » Um, I just wanted to say again, Richard
Lindseay, Marshall Township. I just
[1:11:25] wanted to thank each and every one of
you for what you're doing. You're
[1:11:28] appreciated. You're doing a good job and
we do appreciate what you're doing. I
[1:11:33] watch more often on video than I come in
here. So, I'm glad to be here live
[1:11:37] tonight because there were some meta
items. But when you have an Oprah issue
[1:11:41] with 110 South Hamilton,
I didn't know about 115 East Green. I've
[1:11:46] been doing the same thing. I've been
watching the building fall down for the
[1:11:49] last five years. That's freaking
fantastic, right? And then also the
[1:11:53] Cronin LLC social district. Again,
indicative of people investing a lot of
[1:11:57] money in Marshall and they're doing that
because you guys are doing the right
[1:12:00] thing. Keep up the good work. So the
other thing I want to mention is the
[1:12:05] downtown reconfiguration. So when I was
the chair of the ma board a few years
[1:12:10] ago, um Tom Frank and Hans Schuler took
me to the hill. If anybody had been to
[1:12:17] the hill, it was to go talk to Tom Frank
and hear what Tom Frank's thoughts were
[1:12:20] on the world. Important place to go and
listen. They had one concern that they
[1:12:25] raised and that was the traffic. How
fast the traffic was moving in downtown
[1:12:28] Marshall. And so we talked to MDOT. We
had a guy that was fairly uh influential
[1:12:33] at the state level, Jayce Bulier, the
speaker of the house. He said he
[1:12:36] couldn't do anything about it, right? Um
Senator Nos, remember that name? He
[1:12:41] couldn't do anything about it. We talked
to the assist the actually the city
[1:12:44] manager of Kazoo came over and met with
us at Schoers and talked about uh the
[1:12:49] city marshal train to take control of
that back from MDOT because it was so
[1:12:52] ridiculous how fast the traffic was
moving through there and the trucks
[1:12:56] going through there. And so I I'm not
down here all day every day, but I've
[1:13:01] been down here a couple of hours over
the last couple days that this this has
[1:13:04] been changed. Not hearing the same
things. I'm not seeing the trucks. I
[1:13:09] know you guys didn't do it, but you
worked with MDOT to get that done. So
[1:13:14] congratulations. I think you're going to
hear a lot more positive about that and
[1:13:18] you can get out of your door without
having your door taken off. So thanks,
[1:13:21] guys.
>> Thank you, sir.
[1:13:23] » Any other comments on non-aggenda items?
[1:13:29] Yes, ma'am.
[1:13:33] » Just a few things. Laura Valentine, 509
North Drive East.
[1:13:41] Uh
[1:13:44] there's going to be some things revealed
on the Republican National Convention. I
[1:13:52] urge everyone to watch because I know
that
[1:13:57] Trump's going to speak about something
that has something to do with an
[1:14:02] executive order. I know, I've heard it.
I've seen it. I've read
[1:14:07] and it's about stopping all projects of
construction using Chinese components
[1:14:13] because of national security.
[1:14:20] Data centers use Chinese components.
Just be aware of that. If we have any
[1:14:28] any
industry come to this town, maybe a
[1:14:33] fiber mill, maybe something that's
actually made in America that is good
[1:14:40] for our town historically.
We need to have a clean water, heavy
[1:14:47] metals, battery toxins ordinance for
Kalamazoo River, air quality ordinance
[1:14:53] for restaurants, hospitals, care
centers, schools, residents.
[1:14:58] I don't want to breathe plastic and I
don't want to breathe VOCC's. And my mom
[1:15:06] has COPD
and I'm already hearing her coughing and
[1:15:13] that's not going to last very long. I
know how long that that Please get an
[1:15:19] air ordinance. Please have a sound and
low frequency noise ordinance so our
[1:15:24] neurological systems including our eyes
and our brains are staying healthy and
[1:15:30] flourishing and thriving.
[clears throat] Because what good is an
[1:15:34] industry if you can't live here?
>> Thank you. Anyone else wishing to
[1:15:39] address council this evening on
non-aggenda items?
[1:15:44] Seeing none, we'll move to uh council
communications and member Skiibby.
[1:15:50] Um yeah, thank you for hosting tonight.
Um thanks to Director Strange for
[1:15:55] putting the presentation together. look
forward at least in the next few months
[1:15:58] I have continue to work on the the data
center issue and kind of putting yeah
[1:16:03] rules and things in place. Um I would
just you know encourage more you know as
[1:16:07] many work sessions we could have to go
through these would be fantastic. Um and
[1:16:10] I know I appreciate having the
communications director on and I think
[1:16:13] that's somebody who will be able to take
some of this you know really publicly
[1:16:17] interested work and be able to kind of
give updates. So, I'm really hoping that
[1:16:20] that person can, you know, continue to
update the public on as we make things
[1:16:24] or even sharing what we went through
tonight would be great. So, appreciate
[1:16:28] you guys work on that. Um, that's
something else and I failed to write it
[1:16:32] down. So, if I think about it, I'll send
an email. But, no, that's that's it for
[1:16:36] tonight. Thank you, Gates.
Um, there was a parks and wreck meeting
[1:16:41] uh the other day. We talked about the
Riverwalk grant and uh potential further
[1:16:46] development at Ketchum Park. Um, that's
about all there is to report from that
[1:16:50] meeting. Uh, I do want to mention
something that a member of the public
[1:16:53] raised regarding pressure from the state
pertaining to data centers. I can't
[1:16:58] speak for anybody else on council, but I
personally have not been in contact with
[1:17:02] anyone from the Whitmer administration,
any state lawmakers, state uh staff
[1:17:07] members, anybody. Uh, nobody's talked to
me about data centers, nor put any
[1:17:11] pressure on me, nor do I feel bullied in
any way u around that issue. So, just to
[1:17:18] set everybody's mind to ease on that.
>> Thank you, member.
[1:17:24] » I'm excited about fall. Uh, we've got
home tours coming up this weekend. Um,
[1:17:29] skeletonfest coming up. Um, lots going
on in Marshall and it's always great to
[1:17:34] see everything happening and, um, see
people downtown.
[1:17:39] » Thank you.
>> And the, uh, road looks great. um had
[1:17:43] had several people who
if you know me I spend a lot of time on
[1:17:47] Saturdays having coffee downtown
and um my old man group has said that
[1:17:54] they enjoy uh the it's quieter there not
not you know a ton of traffic as far as
[1:18:01] loudness cars revving their engines
going by so uh they said kudos
[1:18:07] » thank you
>> I think I'm becoming an old man because
[1:18:10] I'm one of those people who now
appreciate more of silence downtown, but
[1:18:13] working down there has been an issue for
years with the noise and the the speed
[1:18:18] of traffic and the trucks racing and
revving and and the last couple weeks
[1:18:22] has been extremely pleasant down there.
Um, so far from my perspective, it's uh
[1:18:29] it's been a win. So that's all I have.
Thank you.
[1:18:32] » Thank you. Member Hill,
>> nothing for me. Thank you. member chain.
[1:18:37] » Uh, airport board meets next Monday, so
I'll have a report the following Monday.
[1:18:43] So,
>> other than that, have a great couple
[1:18:46] weeks.
>> Thank you, city manager Perry.
[1:18:49] » Just a reminder that our home tour will
be this weekend
[1:18:55] beautiful.
[1:18:59] » Thank you, clerk. Do you think
>> um just in addition to the home tour,
[1:19:04] there is the suicide awareness event on
September 10th um at the phone.
[1:19:10] » Thank you.
>> Yeah. Um yeah, in regards to the road
[1:19:16] reconfiguration, um you know how readily
we all get comments um you know when
[1:19:21] when we do something people don't like
and the comments on on the road
[1:19:26] reconfiguration have just been
overwhelmingly positive. Um the uh I
[1:19:31] know I was downtown um several times
this week, but the um uh I think it was
[1:19:36] last Tuesday I came out of a meeting and
um I stood on the sidewalk for about
[1:19:42] five minutes and not a single semi went
by. I mean, it's just I don't know how
[1:19:46] the semi drivers all get that
information, but it's fantastic. Uh it's
[1:19:50] quiet and peaceful and, you know, great
for downtown business, great for great
[1:19:54] for pedestrian safety. Um just a a
wonderful um a wonderful change and
[1:20:00] update for our downtown. Um yeah, I was
going to also mention the uh this is the
[1:20:05] fifth annual Step Out of Darkness uh for
suicide uh world suicide prevention day.
[1:20:10] Uh it's a fantastic event that takes
place at Brooks Memorial Fountain
[1:20:14] starting at 6:30. Uh and then there's a
walk and it is um it's a very moving
[1:20:20] event. Uh lots of uh lots of great
involvement from community uh uh
[1:20:25] community groups. Um so I'd encourage
everyone to participate. Uh and then
[1:20:29] yeah, the home tour. Uh I'll put a plug
in for uh East End Arts Center is on the
[1:20:34] uh um on the tour this year. Uh if you
get a chance to go in and and uh see
[1:20:40] that historic building uh in functional
use and the the revamp they've done to
[1:20:44] the beautiful uh uh grand ballroom on
the third floor. uh highly recommend you
[1:20:50] take that opportunity. Um with that, I
will seek a motion.
[1:20:55] » Can I say one more thing?
>> Of course.
[1:20:56] » I don't I just want to just publicly I
meant to say this earlier, Officer
[1:21:00] Lankard. Um a couple Wednesdays ago, uh
the officers handled a situation
[1:21:06] downtown on a Wednesday afternoon. And I
just want to uh tell them what a great
[1:21:12] job they did handling that situation.
Very professional, very human hum, a lot
[1:21:17] of humanity involved in that situation.
But let them know. Thank you.
[1:21:23] Right. With that, I'll seek a motion to
adjurnn.
[1:21:29] » So moved.
>> Motion to support. All in favor say I.
[1:21:34] » I.
>> I. All oppose. Same sign. We are
[1:21:36] journed.